Vol. 530 No. 6
42 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the development of a site of approximately 1.2 acres at Smithfield acquired from a company (details supplied) for the new Land Registry building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1185/01]
The Commissioners of Public Works completed the purchase of the Swedish Match site in Hammond Lane in December 1999. Since then some preparatory works have taken place. An archaeological assessment has been carried out on the open areas of the site and nothing of any significance was found. A planning application was lodged on 23 January 2001 for demolition of the former Maguire and Paterson buildings and adjoining buildings. A strip of land to the north of the site will be disposed of for the proposed Luas line. The Luas area has been fenced off from the main site. When the site clearance has been completed, subject to planning permission, the Commissioners of Public Works will proceed to shortlist developers to tender for the provision of Government offices on the site.
Will the Minister inform the House if the decision to locate the new Land Registry on that site has been rescinded? It should be borne in mind that his colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, told me here a couple of weeks ago that it is possible, even probable, that the Land Registry will be decentralised to Waterford. Will the Minister inform us exactly what the status of the Government position is now? Is that decision being examined or has it been rescinded? What is happening? Should a site like this be without a purpose as it is at the moment?
The site is obviously not without a purpose. As I have told the Deputy, we went to planning permission on the site only in January this year.
But not with the demolition.
Yes, but once the site has been cleared we will proceed to short list developers to tender for the provision of Government offices on the site. That position has not changed.
They were due to be demolished. The Minister of State has not answered my question. The site was bought for a Land Registry building. Is that still the Government's position or has there been a change? Is what the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, said to me, that it is probable the Land Registry will be decentralised to Waterford, accurate? Will the Minister of State clarify exactly what is happening with the site?
My Department purchased the site for a specific purpose, which has not changed.
In other words, it is still for the purpose of siting a Land Registry building?
Yes, but various instructions can be received from a Department. The Office of Public Works acts on behalf of many Departments.
As matters stand, it is designated for the Land Registry.
As I stated recently—
I asked what is the current position.
I am happy to confirm that there has been no change in the instruction to purchase the site for the purpose outlined in the question.
A colleague of the Minister of State stated that part of his Department would be decentralised to Waterford.
It is good of the Deputy to make that announcement.
Will, as the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said, part of his Department be decentralised to Dungarvan? Will that happen?
Yes.
As I stated recently – I have spoken publicly only once on this issue – the Government is considering all the options with regard to the decentralisation programme. Every matter is under consideration. When and if a decision is made by the Government, I shall make the necessary announcement. It is unhelpful to the negotiating process, the social partners and everyone involved when Deputies make announcements in their constitutencies or elsewhere as it leads to speculation about important decisions that affect a constituency.
Someone is being rapped on the knuckles.
Is the Minister of State saying that that statement was worthless?
Which statement?
The statement which included the Land Registry and the Minister of State's Department.
All these matters are under consideration by the Government. I will speak for my Department, other Ministers will speak for theirs.
